Indirect sighting instrument for rockets



33-235. m- ?.463200 5R A March L 1949. K. s. PITZER 2,463,20@

INDIRECT SIGHTING INSTRUMENT FOR ROCKETS Filed Oct. 31, 1945 Patented Mar. l, 1949 INDIRECT SIGHTING INSTRUMENT FOR ROCKETS yKenneth S. Pitzer, Contra Costa County, Calif., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of War Application October 31, 1945, Serial No. 625,826

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to asighting instrument and more particularly to'a reilecting s ight for the indirect aiming of a `weapon such as a rocket tube.

An object vof this invention is to provide a sighting instrument for use with a weapon which is'not itself equipped with sighting means. Another object is to provide a sighting instrument for the indirect aiming of weapons whose position makes direct aiming diiiicult. Other objects and 4advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a sighting instrument embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the sighting instrument illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a sighting instrument embodying the invention in position for use;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified sighting instrument incorporating the invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a reflecting device for use in conjunction with the sighting instrument shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the underside of the sighting instrument shown in Fig. 5 with the reflecting device in position to be carried.

Referring to the drawings in detail there is a U-shaped supporting member I adapted to flt over a weapon or projecting device II in such a manner that it will rest on the rocket tube or weapon I I and be aligned therewith. A rear sight I2 is mounted at one end of the supporting .member I0 and a front sight I3 is mounted at the other end of the supporting 'member I0. The center of the rear sight I2 is aligned for a given trajectory and distance with the tip of a center post I4 in the front sight I3.

A reflecting device I such as a. mirror is pivotally mounted on the supporting member I0 by a pair of arms I6 and a pin I'I. When the sight is placed on. the rocket tube or weapon II such as the shipping container for a rocket as illustrated in Fig. 3, the mirror I5 ispositioned behind the rear sight I2 and in angular relation thereto so that aline of sight AS passing through the rear sight I3 and the front sight I2 will strike the mirror 5 and be reected upward. Thus, the direction of the line of sightfS may be observed by an observer O from a position above the rocket tube or weapon II along the line of sight S1.

As will be readily seen, such indirect sighting is extremely useful where the rocket tube or weapon I I rests on the ground in such a manner that it would be difficult to sight it directly because of its proximity to the ground. Such a sight is especially adaptable for aiming the shipping containers of rockets from which the rockets may be fired, but which are not themselves equipped with sights.

When the sight is to be carried in a pack or elsewhere, the mirror I5 may be positioned under the supporting member III so as to be more compact and so that its reflecting surface will not be damaged.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, there is a U-shaped supporting member 20 having an upper wall 30 and lateral Walls 3| and 3| and carrying a front sight post 2| and a rear sight post 22 aligned for a given trajectory and distance. When this sight is to be used, a reecting device 23 is positioned behind the rear sight 22 and in angular relation thereto. The reecting device comprises a reflector 2'I and a reector support backing 28 which is provided with bent edges 29 and 29' for clamping the reflector thereto. The backing is provided with iianges or lugs 24 at one end thereof which are adapted to be secured under a keeper 25 on the supporting member 20 for supporting the reflector 21 in operative position, and lugs 26 at the opposite end thereof for securing the reiiector to the inside of the supporting member 20 when the device is not being used.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and alterations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sighting apparatus for directing the ight of a rocket, including the combination with a rocket tube of instrumentalities removably mounted on said tube, the said instrumentalities comprising a U-shaped supporting member adapted to iit over the rocket tube, a keeper attached to the inner surface of said supporting member, a front sight and a rear sight carried by the supporting member, and means for indirectly observing the direction of the line of sight between the front sight and the rear sight comprising a reflector, a reiiector support backing provided with lateral, bent edges for attachment to said reflector, lugs at one end of said backing for engagement by said keeper to support said reflector in sighting position, and lugs at Hilti the opposite ends of said backing for engagement therewith for supporting said reector within said U-shaped member when the instrument is not in use.

2. A sighting apparatus for directing the flight of a rocket, including the combination with a rocket tube of instrumentalities removably mounted on said tube, the said instrumentalities comprising a U-shaped supporting member having an upper wall `and lateral walls adapted to fit over the rocket tube, a keeper attached to the inner surface of said upper wall of said supporting member, a front sight and a rea-r sight carried by the supporting member, and means for indirectly observing the direction of the line of sight between the front sight and the rear sight comprising a reflector, a reector support backing provided with lateral, bent edges for attachment to said reflector, lugs at one end of said backing for engagement between, said keeper and said upper Wall to support said reflector in sighting position, and lugs at the opposite ends of said backing for engagement between said keeper and said upper wall for supporting said reector within said U-shaped member when the instrument is not in use.

3. A sighting apparatus for directing the ight of a rocket, including the combination with a rocket tube of instrumentalities removably mounted on said tube, the said instrumentalities comprising a U-shaped supporting member adapted to fit over the rocket tube, sight posts supporting a front sight and a rear sight mounted on said supporting member, a, keeper attached to said rear sight post adjacent the inner surface of said supporting member, and means for indirectly observing the direction of the line of sight between the front sight and the rear sight comprising a reflector, a reflector support backing provided with lateral, bent edges for attachment to said reflector, lugs at one end of said backing for engagement by said keeper to support said reflector in sighting position, and lugs at the opposite ends of said backing for engagement therewith for supporting said reflector within said U-shaped member when the instrument is not in use.

KENNETH S. PITZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,264,133 Morris Apr. 23, 1918 1,709,310 Dahl Apr. 16, 1929 2,198,836 Patton Apr. 30, 1940 2,331,616 Minghetti Oct. 12, 1943 2,407,960 Mariotti Sept. 17, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,392 GreatBritain 1891 120,784 Great Britain Nov, 28, 1918 541,887 Great Britain Dec. 16, 1941 

